As the preparations were underway, Matt stood outside, scanning the darkened horizon. Chester joined him, his shotgun in hand.
"Think they'll come tonight?" Chester asked.
Matt's gaze didn't waver. "If they're smart, they'll wait until we're tired. But something tells me they're not patient."
Inside the saloon, Doc arrived to check on everyone and to ensure the staff had a safe place to hide if things got bad. Kitty found herself at the bar, fiddling with an empty glass.
"You nervous?" Bill asked, leaning against the counter.
Kitty smirked. "I've seen plenty of trouble, Bill. This is just another night in Dodge."
Bill chuckled. "You're tougher than half the men in this town, Kitty. But I still don't like seeing you in the middle of this."
She shrugged. "Someone's gotta make sure Matt doesn't get himself killed."
Bill shook his head, smiling faintly. "You care about him more than you let on, don't you?"
Kitty didn't answer right away, her eyes fixed on the door. "He's a good man. But he carries too much on his shoulders."
Before Bill could reply, Matt stepped back inside, his expression grim. "They're here."
The sound of hoofbeats echoed through the quiet streets, growing louder as the gang approached. Matt stood at the saloon's entrance, his hand resting on his gun. Chester and two deputies took up positions nearby, while the remaining ared townsmen huddled in the shadows.
The gang came into view, a dozen riders led by a man with a cruel grin and a coiled-snake emblem stitched onto his vest.
"You must be Marshal Dillon," the leader called, his voice mocking. "Heard a lot about you. Figured it was time someone put you in your place."
Matt stepped forward, his tone calm but firm. "You've got no business here. Turn around and ride out before someone gets hurt."
The leader laughed. "Oh, we've got plenty of business here. That saloon looks like a fine place to start."
As the tension mounted, Matt's hand inched closer to his gun. The outlaws spread out, their weapons gleaming in the moonlight.
Inside, Kitty stood with Bill, her heart pounding as she gripped the shotgun Bill had handed her.
The standoff had begun.